Table of Contents
If you are taking a full cutting to propagate your succulent, you will want to use sharp scissors or pruning shears. Cut the stem, just above a leaf. You can take your cutting from the top of the succulent or from an offshoot. For cacti cuttings, what you cut will depend on the type of cactus you have.
Can you trim the stem of a succulent?
Succulents generally do best if they are pruned at the beginning of their growing season, however, you can prune anytime. If you prune toward the end of the growing season you may not see new growth as quickly but it will happen slowly and pickup once they start actively growing again.
How do you cut a succulent?
Simply cut into the top or side of a columnar cactus and remove a piece about an inch in diameter. Place it on a dry surface that won’t be disturbed and forget it for a few months. During this time, provided it remains dry, the cutting will callus off and form roots. Then it’s ready to plant.
How do you cut a leggy succulent?
How To Cut a Leggy Succulent Plant Cut the plant leaving about an inch or so of stem on the bottom of the plant. Place the stem cuttings in a dry area away from direct sunlight to dry for a day or two, more if your area is humid. Once the cut has healed, stick the cuttings in a well-draining potting mix.
Can you put succulent cuttings straight into soil?
Soil: Once the stems have calloused, fill a shallow tray with well-draining cactus/succulent soil and place the cuttings on top. Within a few weeks, roots and tiny plants will begin to grow from the base of the cuttings. Allow your propagated succulents to take root, then they can be replanted as desired.
Can I cut the top off my succulent and replant it?
Once you remove the top of your succulent, you can replant it in the soil and it won’t look so stretched out and leggy anymore. Grab a sharp pair of shears or a gardening knife. You should also wear a pair of gloves—some succulents have thorns and others have milky sap that can be irritating to your skin.
What happens if you cut the top off a succulent?
There is a way to get back to a tight, compact garden again. Start by cutting off the top of the succulent using sharp scissors (I love, love, love this pair! Once the end of the cutting has calloused over (dried out completely and looks “scabbed”) you can plant it in soil and begin watering it.
Should I cut off dead succulent leaves?
The thick, fleshy leaves and stems of succulent plants survive for a long time but they eventually shrivel and die. Promptly pruning off the dead leaves improves the look of the plants and prevents any disease organisms from spreading.
How do you fix a tall succulent?
The stretched part of the plant won’t un-stretch, but new growth will once again grow more closely together. The only thing to do if you want to get rid of the etiolation I.e. stretched-out part is to cut your succulent down and propagate the cuttings.
Why do succulents etiolated?
It’s a natural response mechanism by the plant to sunlight deprivation. These unfavorable conditions force the plant to respond by rapidly growing in a direction where it perceives to have maximum light. This results in the stretched and bent morphology exuded by etiolated plants.
When should I plant my succulent cutting?
The plants should have a “callous” on them, meaning that the bottom of the plant has dried out. This forms a few days after cutting the succulent, so you should wait a few days before planting freshly cut succulents.
How long can succulent cuttings survive?
Seedling succulents should not be allowed to sit with exposed roots. However, many mature succulents can have exposed roots for up to a week while you allow the roots to dry out and prepare them for replanting.
What is the easiest succulent to propagate?
Top 10 Easiest Succulents to Propagate Echeveria ‘Purple Pearl’ Sedum rubrotinctum (Pork and Beans or Jelly Beans) Echeveria ‘Lola’ Sedum nussbaumerianum. Sempervivum arachnoideum (Cobweb Houseleek) xGraptoveria ‘Debbie’ Graptopetalum paraguayense (Ghost Plant) Sedum morganianum ‘Burrito’.
Why is my succulent growing a long stem in the middle?
Succulents will grow long stems when they are not getting enough sunlight. This process is called etiolation, where they start to turn and stretch out in search of light, giving them a “leggy” appearance with a long stem and smaller, spaced-out leaves.
Why are my succulent leaves falling off when I touch them?
If you have a succulent and its leaves are swelling up and falling off when touched, this means that the plant may have been overwatered. The best practice when it comes to watering succulents is to allow the soil to dry out with the leaves seeming somewhat wrinkled before watering your succulents again.
Why is my succulent stem turning black?
Succulents are typically not susceptible to insect or pest infestation, but overwatering can lead to black stem rot, a preventable and easily fixable disease. Other signs of black stem rot include puckered flesh with a dark tint around the infected area. Stop watering a plant with rot. Remove the plant from its pot.
